Santa will be in the Bancroft Park cabin two more days (Thursday-Friday, Dec. 23 and 24), and so will elves for Christmas Unlimited.
With a live band playing nearby (in front of the park pavilion) Dec. 18, families' visits to the cabin's “north pole” last weekend (Dec. 18-19) approached 400 families,
each of which had a free picture taken of themselves with Santa in the bargain, according to Maize Baalman of the Old Colorado City Associates (OCCA) business
group.

The scene in Bancroft Park the afternoon of Dec. 18: At far left, a line of families patiently waits to see Santa inside the cabin; at far right,
the Nineveh Shore band performs.

Westside Pioneer photo

“It was awesome, in spite of the cold weather,” she said. With a long line outside the cabin, an hour-long wait was not unusual, However, Baalman said, other
businesses in and near the park had special offerings, and, “with the live band, it made it more fun for people to wait.”
The remaining times for Santa in the cabin are noon to 5 p.m. Dec. 23 and noon to 3 p.m. Dec. 24.
Through the season, the OCCA is also helping Christmas Unlimited collect toy donations, using the cabin as a base. Donations of new or gently used toys are
requested. The nonprofit then distributes them to needy children in the area.
The band, a local group called Nineveh Shore, was brought in by the OCCA, with the additional goal of drawing attention to requests for donations of emergency
food and household items to the Westside's Living Faith Church's food pantry, 2120 King Street. The pantry hours are weekly on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 12:30
p.m. and 4:30 to 6 p.m.

New quilting store
Nana's Quilt Cottage recently opened in Old Colorado City.
The address, 35 S. 26th St., is in the new space constructed over the past two years at the north end of the historic 1889 building on the northeast corner of 26th and
Colorado Avenue.
“I've been sewing all my life,” owner Marybeth Wujcik said of her quilting background. The business specializes in fabric, notions, kits, books, patterns and classes.
Nana's is a family business, with Wujcik getting help from daughters Rebecca and Amalia.
The business is open Monday to Saturday. A grand opening is planned in January.
The phone is 634-9500, the e-mail nanasquiltcottage@yahoo.com.

Goodwill donations
At the end of the year, many people with extra valuables typically donate them to Goodwill Industries.
According to Laura Marth, spokesperson for the Westside-based nonprofit, donations are welcomed, with the following quality-type condition. “We ask our donors
to give to Goodwill what they would give to a friend.”
Goodwill's attended donation centers (ADCs) also accept recycled computer hardware, at no charge.
Here are the open dates/times for the two Westside ADCs:

Wal-Mart, 707 S. Eighth St. - regularly open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Those hours will be the same through the season, except Christmas Eve (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.)